Mysterious clouds spotted on Saturn's moon Titan

BY
SIMON SMITH
| PUBLISHED:
12-30-2016

The mystery deepens further owing to the proximity of both cameras, yet the images are entirely different.

On June 7th and 25th, NASA's Cassini spacecraft flew over Titan, and its cameras were able to capture images of thin wispy clouds under the overcast conditions of Saturn's moon, Titan. Using the crafts Imaging Science Subsystem(ISS), and Visual and Infrared Spectrometer(VIMS), only the latter managed to see through the moon's hazy atmosphere and capture infrared shots of the clouds over Titan.

The image shows extensive cloud cover on both dates and the clouds were only caught in the VIMS image but not the ISS. And this is what is baffling to NASA.

The mystery deepens further owing to the proximity of both cameras, yet the images are entirely different.

A statement released by NASA after the astonishing discover tried to explain the phenomenon, "Even though the images were taken at different wavelengths, researchers would expect at least a hint of the clouds to show the ISS image. Thus, they have been trying to understand what's behind the difference". The statement adds, "The answer as to what may be causing the discrepancy, appears to lie on Titan's hazy atmosphere, which is easier to see through a longer wavelength that VIMS is sensitive to".

The ISS camera can capture images through visible wavelengths of light and some infrared and ultra-violet wavelengths, but the ISS did not capture the cloud cover. The distance of the ISS camera was 640,000 kilometers while the VIMS image was captured from 45,000 kilometers. The VIMS image obtained was further, and bright clouds are visible in Titan's Northern skies